Pursuing Wintertime Bonefishingby Capt. Barry Hoffman

As
the balmy summertime weather fades in the Keys and is replaced by cooler and windier
days, your tactics and strategies for bonefish should change as well. These changes
in weather promote the bonefish to alter the areas they inhabit and promote them
to spawn in large schools. However with a bit of local knowledge, you can keep
right in the action throughout the winter months.

As
December makes its way upon us, we begin to experience the effects of the cold
fronts that make their way through the Keys every 4-5 days. The flats that
may have produced back in October and early November, may become noticeably void
of life as the water temperature begins to drop. During this time of the
year, bonefish have a comfort zone which they prefer (not unlike myself this time
of year) . Although I have caught bonefish in water as cold as 62 degrees, once
the flats reach about 68, it gets a bit too cool for them up there. Focusing on
finding warmer water will be the most important aspect of your wintertime bonefishing.

As these fronts pass through
the Keys, they bring with them cooler temperatures and brisk winds from the North.
These seasonal changes combine and will drive the bonefish from their usual flats
in the backcountry and Islamorada. The wind cools the shallow waters of
Florida Bay first and are then transported oceanside by way of the many channels
that slice through the Keys. These chilled waters wash over the neighboring
flats as the water falls from the backcountry. As these flats cool, the bonefish
search for warmer areas. The oceanside flats north of Islamorada, provide
the perfect habitat to search for wintertime bonefish. These northern-most reaches
of the Florida Keys are without the major waterflows emptying from Florida Bay.
Therefore the water temperatures remain consistently higher due to the fact the
water has a better chance to warm up without the cold water bay influence.

During a prolonged cold
front, finding areas that are able to warm up at mid-day, is the key to wintertime
bonefishing. The fish will seek out these typically quiet areas in an attempt
to get warm and feed. There are many secluded bays and coves that offer protection
from the strong winds that frequent the Keys this time of year. The best
time to fish these areas is during the higher stages of the tide when the fish
can slip high onto the flats and stay throughout the slack tidal period while
the sunlight warms the shallower flat. If the water is still low and falling,
concentrate on finding edges that the warm water is falling into. Chances are
the bonefish will be taking advantage of it.